For current musicians (epecially tuba players)?

Question

Im a female tuba player, and i want to know, how to play way loud with a good tone on my sousaphone.(im a sophmore) any help is greatly appreciated because im in a show band and i have to be able to play extremely loud without losing tone. thanks!!

Answer 1

I'm a girl tuba player too!  im a freshman.

I think the most important thing is just practicing.  stay on one note and crescendo up and try to stay steady w/ ur lips.

keep practicing...!!

Answer 2

First step; is your breath support in good shape?  Follow a physical fitness regimen; avoid smoke, hydrate properly, do a lot of cardio.  There are products on the market that claim to increase breath capacity, look them up if you want to consider special training.

Now, the thing you'll need to do is to devote a part of your daily practice routine to dynamics.

One useful technique overall; when you practice, try to prop the back of your head against something so that it's immobile.  Those irritating trumpet players (like previous responder) can just stand back against a wall; you'll have to find someplace that will accomodate the sousaphone.

Now, just try doing long-note tone studies.  Start on any note that's comfortable--a fairly high one to start--and hold it as long as you can, doing a crescendo to the loudest you can get without losing tone, then down to the softest. Then go down a half-step and do the same for that note.  Keep that up until you're as low in the instrument's range as is comfortable.

Just so this exercise doesn't get too boring, you can try doing the crescendo-decrescendo as you go from the first note to the next one half-a-step down, or you can do whole-steps, or scales, or even little figures like down a whole-step and then up a half-step on one breath.

Be patient, it will show improvement by end of summer.

Answer 3

HAHAHAH!! tubas suck!! GO TRUMPETS!